Trailblazer Foundation

Nonprofit Issues:

Address:

Mission:

To create or build upon self-sustaining projects which promote and enhance community development and individual growth around the world.

Results:

Because of Trailblazer's implementation of bio-sand water filters and wells over 100,000 people have access to clean drinking water. Clean water helps save lives!
Other activities in 2012 include:
• Installation of 384 bio-sand water filters
• Drilled 90 pull pump wells and 2 deep bore filtration wells
• Delivered 200 RainFresh filter units to 200 families in Bakong district
• Delivered 44 point-of-use solar units in Angkor Thom, Puok and Prasat Bakong district
• Conducted deliveries of 1,055 boxes of PUR water sachets to Siem Reap, Kompons Speu and Otdormeanchey provinces equating to over 2.5 million liters of clean water
• Distributed 150 mosquito nets to families in Romdoul village
• Distributed 153 pairs of flip flops to primary school students in Bos Tatrav village, Angkor Thom
• Distributed 27 bicycles to students in Kbal Krapeu village
• Distributed 330 fish fingerlings to establish a fish farm in Bos Tatrav village
• Distributed 35 bags (1,750 kg) of rice for 150 families in Bakong district
• Coordinated a GlobalMedic team to provide medical clinic service for 250 patients in Bakong district
• Conducted 3 agriculture training sessions: 2 courses for oyster mushroom production with an average participation of 10 villagers per session and 1 course for growing edumame with 17 participants
In 2012, there were 93 active loans secured from the village funds of 13 villages. The total capital amount for these 13 village funds in 2012 was $4,513.05 USD. Loans were made to qualifying villagers for:
• the purchase livestock,
• paying for medical care costs,
• purchase of rice,
• starting up a small business,
• toilet construction,
• home improvements,
• hiring labor for plowing and rice harvest,
• repair of motorbike or bicycle, and
• Municipal improvements.

Target demographics:

the poorest of the poor get water first, then work on improved agriculture techniques. We focus on health, food security and income generation.

Direct beneficiaries per year:

the overall quality of life for thousands by improving education to thousands of students through school and library construction and bicycle deliveries, providing clean water to over 100,000 people and access to water to over 6,000 families, enhancing agriculture practices with training on vegetable production and organic techniques, disease prevention for hundreds of students through mosquito net and flip flop deliveries

Programs:

Photos

3 hours of volunteer time for this nonprofit will...

Trailblazer works closely with the Cambodian Government to ensure their work efforts are prioritising the villages most in need. Their focus is to bring a permanent supply of fresh water to as many Cambodia families as possible using very simple bio sand water filters and drilling wells. Once the village's most basic need is met, Trailblazer works with them on developing agriculture projects that the villages can then continue themselves to raise their standard of living and become self sufficient.

3 hours of volunteer time for this nonprofit will...

Trailblazer works closely with the Cambodian Government to ensure their work efforts are prioritising the villages most in need. Their focus is to bring a permanent supply of fresh water to as many Cambodia families as possible using very simple bio sand water filters and drilling wells. Once the village's most basic need is met, Trailblazer works with them on developing agriculture projects that the villages can then continue themselves to raise their standard of living and become self sufficient.

I was so impressed with the work that Trailblazer is doing in Cambodia when we visited in 2011! They work with local people on local projects that will empower and support local people. We donate as often as we can because we recognise the importance of their work. Inspiring!

Although program outcomes are essential to any mission driven organization the criticality of an involved board of directors (BOD) and effective staff administration should not be overlooked. The Trailblazer Foundation serves as an example of how the BOD/staff work hand in hand to develop and deliver programs whose outcomes make a difference.

As a former nonprofit associate professor at a major university, I have worked with thousands of well meaning nonprofit employees - both new to the field and established management - and have personally observed how good intentions are just one piece of a well run organization. A sustainable organization - one that will endure both the triumphs of successful programs - as well as the pressure to achieve more impact with constrained resources - requires dedication evidenced by the Trailblazer BOD, staff - and volunteers!

In today's complicated and often fretful world, it can be easy to turn away when the "job" seems never ending or unachievable - but I can attest to the dedication and devotion that TB staff has today as well as the future to support the people of Cambodia.

I was a volunteer for 4 weeks with Trailblazer in Siem Reap and had the most amazing and enlightening time. It is remarkable how much the Foundation has achieved both on the water filters and wells front, and also on the educational front via various amazing school projects and teaching local families how to provide for themselves. I worked with the water filter team and felt privileged to work with such a dedicated team and also humbled by the dignity I observed amongst the families to whom we delivered the filters. The Trailblazer Foundation, under the direction of Chris and Scott Coats and their wonderful staff, deserve every accolade going and all the support we can offer. I will be volunteering with them again. Nina x

Scott Coats and Chris Coats started Trailblazer Foundation with a simple assumption -- communities have within them both a desire and the intelligence to move forward. As a person with 38 years of nonprofit executive leadership and consulting experience, I know when someone just has the right idea, sweeps the silly doubts, questions and industry fads aside and does what is important in the right way. Traiblazer has done that, giving substantive expression to the term empowerment in the most vulnerable and marginalized villages in Cambodia. While more esoteric and better funded groups have their agenda about this system, that change or a host of shoulds that are completely out of touch on the ground, Trailblazer just takes another dozen steps forward, connecting local villages and regional structures, facilitating trust, nurturing hope, moving to the next village when the consistent results have manifested the roots and trunk of a sustainable future.

Will you tell others about this organization?

I love how Trailblazer Foundation is making a huge difference in Asia, to help people who would otherwise be captive in their poverty. I love their sense of justice, giving practical help to the poorest of the poor.
Bethy B

I volunteered for 2 1/2 months digging wells with the drill team nothing compares to see the smiles and great fullness of the families that we got water to. It definitely was a life changing experience

I completely loved this experience ! This is amazing how giving your time for a good purpose make you feel so happy.
My experience at Trailblazer was my first volunteering and not the last :). I've learned a lot on myself but also on the power of volunteering.

Think about that you are helping people having access to clean water ! Imagine how you would feel, living aaway from any grosseries shops without water ? Having to go by waking/motocycling everyday just for getting water seems unbelievable for you ? but that's their daily life and traiblazer is changing this!

I am very glad I worked with trailblazer. The staff are really nice and funny, volunteers I met were also very nice and actually thanks to traiblazer I am gonna go meeting them in Canada and elsewhere.

Plus living in Cambodia was such a good experience :)

Trailblazer is really a good NGO much better than some others who are building a business on the money that they ask you to pay for volunteering...